Cessna 182H accident near Phoenix, Arizona, March 23, 1991
On March 23, 1991, a Cessna 182H, registered N1805X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Deer Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DECISION OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO CONDUCT A SIMULATED POWER FAILURE EMERGENCY IN A MANNER WHICH WAS INAPPROPRIATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 1991
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Deer Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N1805X · no longer on the register · serial 18255905
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT/OWNER HIRED A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. AFTER SOME AIR WORK IN THE LOCAL PRACTICE AREA, THEY RETURNED TO DO SOME TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. AFTER TWO LANDINGS, THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE OWNER/PILOT TO REQUEST A SHORT APPROACH, WHICH HE DID. DURING PREPARATION FOR THE SHORT APPROACH THE INSTRUCTOR PULLED THE MIXTURE INTO IDLE CUT-OFF AND SAID 'YOU LOST YOUR ENGINE.' THE OWNER/PILOT NEEDED POWER TO REACH THE RUNWAY. HE ADDED THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD BETWEEN THE RUNWAYS AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 340 hours in all; 225 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.